With all talks about the Impact Sub Rule in IPL reducing the value of allrounders in the playing XIs this IPL, Axar Patel, one of India’s premier allrounders, on Wednesday put the gauntlet down when Delhi Capitals took on Gujarat Titans in the reverse fixture in Delhi. The southpaw was losing out on opportunities to showcase his batting prowess due to the Impact Sub, especially when he needed to brush up his skills before the T20 World Cup. He even publicly lamented that the 2-season-old rule was eating up his batting chances this season.
“I am not a big fan of the impact player rule because, as an all-rounder, I know that they will either take a proper batsman or a bowler, not an all-rounder.
“I can play early, but if you want to give a chance to the young player, then you have to give them their position, but because of that (Impact Sub-rule), I have to come down the order,” Axar had told media on Monday.
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But come match day, Patel was promoted up the order – batting at number 3 – and left the maximum impact being a part of the first XI. Along with skipper Rishabh Pant, Axar forged a stellar 113-run partnership. His maiden fifty this season, followed by Pant’s blitzkrieg, enabled Delhi to post 224/4 and win the game by four runs to stay alive in the race for the playoffs.
The Delhi management heard Axar’s plea, and in return, the all-rounder made a strong case right before the selectors picked the squad of 15 for the T20 World Cup in the West. Rishabh Pant’s company was the icing on the cake as the two left-handers mauled the Gujarat attack. They didn’t allow Afghan spin twins Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed to settle, forcing the Titans to hold back Sai Kishore until the 19th.
Why Axar at No. 3?
DC assistant coach Pravin Amre briefly addressed Axar’s promotion up the order at the post-match presser. He said the left-hander batting up the order rescued the hosts after a top-order collapse and forced GT to keep one of their star spinners, Sai Kishore, out of the reckoning.
“If you remember last year, he struck the ball very well. Whatever opportunities he was getting were restricted to the last 4-5 overs. So, that was the whole idea to give him some more chance,” Amre said at the post-match presser.
Also, they [Gujarat Titans] had Sai Kishore in the Powerplay, and we wanted a batter to take him on. But he came to bowl in the 19th over, where Axar excelled. The partnership with Rishabh was crucial as we were struggling in the Powerplay. But the maturity he showed was commendable,” he added.
Axar Patel vs Ravindra Jadeja for World Cup Selection?
If the IPL performance is the basis for selecting India’s World Cup squad, then the selectors must not miss Axar at any cost. The southpaw has been etching to face more deliveries and score, which turned into reality on Wednesday in Delhi. He even made a notable contribution with the ball, returning 1/28 in 3 overs.
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Overall, Axar has been a crucial cog in Delhi’s scheme of things, making the much-needed impact as an all-rounder. Given his instrumental contributions this season, the selectors’ job will get tough if asked to choose between him and Ravindra Jadeja.
Both all-rounders have had a similar campaign with the bat, striking at 131 and a fifty each to their names, but Axar is undoubtedly ahead with the ball, with a few more wickets and a better economy rate. Notably, Axar remained wicketless in 3 games, but Jadeja has returned empty-handed on 5 occasions.
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The bowling dilemma
The slot of the spinners in the group of 15 will ideally be three, and assuming Kuldeep Yadav is the first name for that lot, then the tussle will be between Jadeja and Axar. To have them both on the flight to the Caribbean, the selectors will have to overlook Yuzvendra Chahal, who is the frontrunner in the Purple Cap race this season.
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Another possibility could be a combination of four spinners and three full-time pacers, with Hardik Pandya bowling full-tilt and fulfilling the 4th fast-bowler spot. But as the reports suggest, the MI skipper’s World Cup selection will entirely depend on his bowling; it won’t be a surprise if he finds himself biting the dust.
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